The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits rose more than expected last week, but the underlying trend remained consistent with a strengthening labour market.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 12,000 to a seasonally-adjusted 282,000 for the week ended Aug. 29, the U.S. Labor Department said on Thursday.
Claims for the prior week were revised to show 1,000 fewer applications received than previously reported. Economists had forecast claims rising to 275,000 last week.
A department analyst said there were no special factors influencing the data and no states had been estimated.
The claims data has no bearing on Friday's closely watched employment report for August as it fell outside the survey period. According to a Reuters survey of economists, non-farm payrolls likely increased by 220,000 last month after rising 215,000 in July.
But job gains could come in below expectations as the first reading of August payrolls has tended to be weaker in the last several years before being revised higher.
